Jody Vanessa Watley (born January 30, 1959[2][3]) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and artist[4][5][6] whose music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance, and electronic soul.[7][8][9] In 1987, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist[10] and has been nominated for three Grammy awards.[11]

In 2008, she was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard magazine, and was also prominently featured[12] in the historic black issue of Vogue Italia in 2008.

In December 2016 Billboard ranked her as the 21st most successful dance artist of all-time.[13] and in 2017 Black Music Honors TV special recognized Watley as Crossover Music Icon Honoree for her groundbreaking achievements and influence.[14][15][16]

In August 2018 Billboard ranked Jody Watley as one of the top female artists of all-time, at number 53.[17]

Early career

1977-1984: Soul Train and Shalamar

Jody Watley in 1977

Watley was born in Chicago, Illinois. Watley made her first stage appearance at 8 years old with family friend and godfather Jackie Wilson.[18] She got her start on the TV dance show Soul Train at the age of 14. At Dorsey High School she was voted "best dancer" in her senior class poll.[19] Documented by Ebony magazine in 1977 as a part of "The New Generation," Jody Watley was one of the most popular dancers on the show and recognized as a trendsetter for her style and dance moves.[20]
As standouts on the television show, Watley and fellow Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniel were selected to join Gary Mumford and become original members of the R&B group Shalamar by show creator Don Cornelius.[21][22] (Mumford was shortly replaced by Gerald Brown, and Brown himself was soon replaced by Howard Hewett as lead vocalist).[23][24] The lineup of Hewett, Watley, and Daniel would be the most successful. Watley remained with Shalamar from 1977 to 1983.[25] The trio released several albums and scored several hits including the US Top 20 "Dead Giveaway", and the R&B hits "The Second Time Around", "For The Lover In You", and "A Night To Remember". Because of conflicts within the group, disagreements about the artistic direction of Shalamar with Dick Griffey, and lack of payment from Solar Records, she finally left the group in 1983, prior to the release of The Look album.[26][27]

1989-1990: Larger Than Life and continued success

Watley circa 1989.

In the spring of 1989, Watley released her second studio album, Larger Than Life, co-writing eleven of the album's twelve songs. The album sold over 4 million copies worldwide, reaching number 16 on the Billboard 200, and produced four singles: "Real Love" (US #2, #1 R&B, #2 Dance, UK #31), a Gold-certificated single and her first Top 40 UK single since "Looking for a New Love" in 1987; "Friends" featuring Eric B. & Rakim, (US #9, #3 R&B, #7 Dance, UK #21); and "Everything" (US #4, #3 R&B), her first ballad released as a single. The album's fourth and final single, "Precious Love", was a minor hit, peaking at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100.[33] "Friends" is notable for being the first multi-format hit single to include the formula of a pop star featuring a guest rapper with the custom full 16-bar verses and bridge concept, and distinguishable from the rap "Intro" by Melle Mel on Chaka Khan's notable cover of Prince's song "I Feel for You". The successful "Friends" formula would become a mainstay formula in commercial pop music and was added as a category at the Grammy's under Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002.[34][35]

1991-1992: Affairs of the Heart and change in style

Watley would state that she was eager to change her musical range and image, and no longer wanted to be seen as just a dance diva.[40]
She was inspired toward a more introspective approach for 'Affairs Of The Heart", wanting to address social concerns.[41] In December 1991, Watley released her third album, Affairs of the Heart, described by Justin Kantor in Guide to Soul as an overlooked standout of her 1980s and 1990s output.[42] The album peaked at #124 on the US chart, and #21 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.

The lead single, "I Want You," failed to crack the top 40, peaking at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, though peaking at #5 on the US R&B singles chart, and #17 Dance. The second single, "I'm The One You Need", reached #3 Dance and peaked at #19 on the US Hot 100. The final single was the ballad "It All Begins With You", her first single to miss the US Hot 100. Watley earned an invitation by President George H. W. Bush in 1992 to perform this song at the White House. Watley used the opportunity to encourage the government to provide more support and funding for public schools.[43] Watley recorded "It's All There" for the movie "Switch" with legendary composer Henry Mancini.[44]

1993-1994: Intimacy

Promotional photo, 1993.

Apparently undeterred by disappointing sales, Watley stated she was more concerned with broadening her creative boundaries than in having huge record sales.[45]
In November 1993, MCA released her fourth solo album, the introspective relationship themed Intimacy. Noting that the new jack swing was popular in R&B at the time, Amy Linden wrote in People magazine that Intimacy continued the process of Watley's move toward more refreshingly adult themes and that Watley was deserving of serious attention.[46] Watley herself said that the songs she wrote were always personal statements.[47]

Intimacy with its songs of "romance and angst"[47] reached #164 on the US Top 200 Album Chart and #38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. The first single was "Your Love Keeps Working On Me", barely scraped onto the Hot 100 at #100' and also peaked at #2 Dance and #26 R&B/Hip-Hop. Watley added video director to her resume for the next single, the spoken word tune "When a Man Loves a Woman".[48] "When A Man Loves A Woman" reached #11 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop and US #8 Dance. Although not a pop hit in the US or UK as well, the BBG Remix of this song topped the Dance charts in the UK. The album also contained the song "Ecstasy", produced by David Morales, which became an underground hit and later appeared on her Greatest Hits collection. Like its predecessor, "Intimacy" would not be a strong seller, but would continue to give Watley better critical success.

1995: Affection

Having parted ways with MCA Records, Watley took an independent path and started her own label, Avitone Records, and released her fifth studio album, Affection, in July 1995. The album was engineered and produced by the legendary Booker T. Jones and Angelo Earl.[49] She aligned Avitone with the independent Bellmark Records for distribution. According to a review of the album "Affection" by Jose Promis of Allmusic, the release lacked the urgency and immediency of her dance-era hits, but was an engaging collection of slow burners, mid tempo and jazzy R&B.[50] The album's title track, "Affection", didn't crack the Hot 100 but became a moderate R&B hit, peaking at #28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart[51]

1996: Greatest Hits album

In 1996, Watley played Rizzo in the musical Grease on Broadway theater in New York City, the first African American woman to play the role.[52] Watley was photographed by famous photographer, Victor Skrebneski, for the popular Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15 page high fashion layout. That fall, Watley appeared on the platinum-selling single "This Is For The Lover In You" by Babyface. The single also featured LL Cool J and Watley's former Shalamar bandmates Howard Hewett and Jeffrey Daniel, essentially reforming the group for the single. It was a remake of Shalamar's R&B hit "For The Lover In You". As the year wound to a close, Watley took a hiatus from her own Avitone label, and signed with Big Beat/Atlantic Records. The same year MCA Records released her Greatest Hits album with Watley's recordings for MCA.

1997-1998: Flower

After spending most of 1997 in the recording studio crafting her sixth studio album, Flower, Watley was back in early 1998 with its lead singles "Off The Hook" and "If I'm Not In Love." "Off The Hook" peaked at #23 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and #73 Billboard Hot 100 but fared much better on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Propelled by remixes from Masters At Work and Soul Solution(Dance act), the track reached #1 on the dance chart, making it her first #1 Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit in nine years. Later the same year, a single of "If I'm Not In Love" was released, with promo mixes by Sal Dano (credited as BK Dano), Lenny Bertoldo, and 95 North (Richard Payton and Doug Smith) and that song reached #2 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Big Beat Records was absorbed into its parent label, Atlantic Records, which then shelved the album from a U.S. release, and left Watley in legal limbo for two years.[53]Flower was, however, released in Canada, Great Britain, and Japan. The critically acclaimed release was championed by many UK magazines, including Blues and Soul and Echoes among others.
A previously unreleased song featuring Watley with George Duke titled "Baby Love" was included as a bonus track on The Best of George Duke The Electra Years in 1997. "[54]

1999: The Saturday Night Experience

It was during the time she was unable to record, that Watley says she was inspired by 4Hero whose 1998 album Two Pages exposed her to the underground electronic dance music outside of the mainstream; she credits this inspiration for not retiring after the disappointment of how Flower was handled.[53]The Saturday Night Experience Vol. 1, as Watley told music historian David Nathan.

In November 1999, Jody reactivated her independent label, Avitone, and released her seventh studio album via Universal Japan The Saturday Night Experience featuring Jody Watley Vol. 1, a collection of organic club music tracks, inspired by her newfound love of electronic music. It was released exclusively in Japan along with a single, "Another Chapter," with remixes by DJ Soma. Also included on the project was the drum and bass title song "Saturday Night Experience." As Watley told music historian David Nathan, "The Saturday Night Experience" was intended to be a concept album, aimed at people looking for something different.[53]The Saturday Night Experience , as told to music historian David Nathan, Watley stated she had no desire to release the project in the U.S.[55] The title song of the same name was licensed to Giant Step and included on their compilation "Giant Sessions, Volume 1 Mixed by Ron Trent".[56] The following year, MCA released 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jody Watley.

2001-2005: Midnight Lounge

Watley meeting Queen of Malaysia, 2005.

In 2001, Jody released her eighth studio album, Midnight Lounge in Europe and Japan. In an interview with Billboard magazine Watley would say, "An artist should always explore new frontiers."[57] "Midnight Lounge" was a collection of tracks that combined a blend of soul, jazz, R&B, and electronic club music.[58][59]

After achieving moderate success in its original release, Watley arranged for it to be released in the U.S. through her Avitone imprint in a short-term license deal with Shanachie Records on March 11, 2003. Midnight Lounge was Watley's first studio album released in the U.S. in eight years, reaching Top 20 status on Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. Roy Ayers appeared on the Masters At Work produced, "I Love to Love", Junior Vasquez and several other producers contributed remixes to the single release of "Whenever", bringing the track to #19 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart. One of the album's other singles, "Photographs", became notable in the underground club scene with mixes by Phil Asher and East West Connection. The music and growth of Watley would achieve critical acclaim for the project and Watley, noting she had successfully updated her sound over the years and evolved successfully into a soulful chanteuse.[59][60][61][62]

In 2005, Watley made history on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart when she re-released her 1987 hit "Looking For a New Love" on Curvve Recordings. The 2005 remix reached #1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart[63], making her the first artist ever to take the same song to #1 in two different decades. Jody Watley now has the distinction of being among the few artists who have been to #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in all of the past three decades (the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s). The same year, Watley was invited to participate in the Force of Nature Relief Concert[64] to aid the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[65] During the trip Watley and others (including The Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill, and Jackie Chan) were invited to the Royal Palace to meet The King and Queen of Malaysia for a special Tea reception in showing their gratitude for all involved with Force of Nature.[66]

2006-2014: The Makeover

The Makeover would bring Watley together with 4Hero and King Britt among others in an electronic musical style.[67][68] Understanding the shifting paradigms in the music industry and the changing business models,[69][70] Watley's Avitone Recordings arranged for The Makeover to be released exclusively to the Virgin Megastore chain in its first ever CD exclusive.[71] It debuted at #1 for the retailer, and was accompanied by a Virgin mini-tour where she performed for customers and signed copies of the CD.[72][73] The first single was a cover of Madonna's "Borderline". The single reached #2 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in January 2007. The second single, a cover of Chic's "I Want Your Love," reached #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play in June 2007.[74]

Jody Watley promoting 'The Makeover' in-store, 2008.

In 2007, Watley was listed as #5 in the Year End Billboard Dance Play Artists. Her single "I Want Your Love" was #15 and "Borderline" #19 according to Billboard Year End Chart Review for 2007.[75][76] In January 2008, "I Want Your Love" topped the U.K. Dance Charts in January, giving her first U.K. mainstream dance hit in two decades.[77] In 2008, she launched an online music store,[78] while scoring another Top Five Billboard Dance Single, "A Beautiful Life," bringing the total of Top Five Singles for The Makeover to three. In May 2008, continuing over a decade of support for various charities dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS, Watley performed at Life Ball, Europe's largest gala for the cause held in Vienna, Austria.[79] In May 2009, Watley's Avitone signed a distribution deal with London-based Alternative Distribution Alliance Global.[80]

In October 2009, an "International" version of "The Makeover' was released in the U.K. to positive reviews. Pete Lewis from Blues & Soul noted her evolution as an artist and performer as being showcased on the album. Further stating Watley being hailed by some, as exemplifying the 21st century recording artist continuing to exercise her own creative path.[81] Distinguishable from the original release, The Makeover "International Edition" featured new cover art and track listing. New inclusions featured the bossa-soul rendering of Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain", a sparsely arranged version of Carole King's 1960s ballad "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", Erasure's anthem "A Little Respect", and a reworking of the Diana Ross dance classic "Love Hangover". Replacing the downtempo ambient version found on the 2006 "The Makeover", Watley recorded the new arrangement originally suggested by songwriter Pam Sawyer, for Ross.[81][82]
Reg Dancy from Basic Soul would write that Watley was able to handpick songs and make them seem as if they had been written for her.[83]
Added to the line-up of producers which included King Britt, Mark de-Clive Lowe, 4Hero, DJ Spinna, and longtime co-collaborator Rodney Lee, are remixer/producers Marco Zappala from Brazil and Craig C. from the UK.

In February 2010 Jody Watley joined Jamie Foxx onstage at a post Grammy event for a duet performance of her signature hit "Looking For a New Love"[84] and also appeared in the VH1 documentary "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America".[85] On October 27, 2012, Watley starred in the one time international humanitarian musical event Loving the Silent Tears with performers from 16 countries and cultures, created by Al Kasha directed by Vincent Paterson and choreographed by Bonnie Story at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles[86][87][88][89]

Jody Watley recorded collaborations with the electro pop duo French Horn Rebellion on singles titled "Cold Enough" and "Dancing Out" also featuring Young Empires in December 2012 and June 2013.[90][91] Watley added high-profile summer concerts including Grammy All-Stars in Chengdu, China at Chengdu Sports Centre and Essence Music Festival in July 2013.[92][93]

Jody Watley released a new single "Nightlife", in 2013.[94][95][96][97][4] The song, which marked a return to disco dance, was a Top 5 British Urban Single, Top 10 Commercial Pop Single Music Week and Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Top 20 Single in 2014.[98]

2014-present: Paradise and Shalamar Reloaded

On July 28, 2014, the EP "Paradise" was released through Watley's longtime Avitone label, digital outlets, and limited edition CD exclusively through her official website[99][100][101] the EP contains the single "Nightlife", along with 5 new songs and collaborations with Mark de Clive Lowe, string arranger and musician Miguel Atwood Ferguson and newcomers Count de Money (France), Luminodisco ( Italy) and Soulpersona (UK)[102][103] Jody Watley collaborated with music new jack pop duo French Horn Rebellion.[91][104]

Also in 2014, Watley, a well documented original member of Shalamar became the legal registered owner though not without challenge[105][106][107][104][108] Watley would state that the term "Reloaded" was to make sure the public knew this was not a reunion with past members and that she found the challenge exciting to rebrand the group bringing it to a new generation while finally finding a way to bring both catalogues together for a dynamic concert experience. Watley launched a new online boutique devoted to Shalamar merchandise[109] in tandem with her own longstanding Jody Watley Boutique founded in 1999.[99] A string of new American Tour Dates in support of Paradise and introducing the newly reloaded Shalamar included, Oakland, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, San Jose, Washington D.C. Sacramento, Atlantic City and more.[110][111][112] media blitz to introduce the members that included television in major markets and concerts expanding in and outside of the United States and included Brazil, The Netherlands and the UK.[113][114][115][116][117] The reloaded version of the group features renowned choreographer Rosero McCoy and newcomer Nate Allen Smith an Ohio native singer, dancer, choreographer[112][118][119][120][121][122] Shalamar Reloaded released a promotional single titled "SlowDance" on July 17, 2015 through Watley's Avitone label. The single was subsequently picked up by independent label Spectra Music Group and released on October 20, 2015 along with a new video directed by Damien Sandoval.[123] Jody Watley and the new trademarked Shalamar was also featured in a SIRIUSXM Special "In The Groove with B.K Kirkland which aired in July of 2015.[124][125] The SRL trio with Nate Smith and Rosero McCoy also made television appearances on Chicago's WGN Morning News debut performance[126][127] and KTLA Morning New with Sam Rubin[128][129] It was also announced that the ever eclectic Watley would be a guest vocalist on highly acclaimed funkster Dam-Funk's second album "Invite The Light" via Rolling Stone.[130] Jody Watley and Shalamar Reloaded continue to add touring dates in the United States. They have also had festival appearances in the United Kingdom including Let's Rock London. Jody has also taken to Shalamar Reloaded to Japan, Brazil and Netherlands and added them to Superfreestyle arena dates in America as of 2015 and 2016 announcements.[131][119][132] In 2016, Watley made the choice to redirect her efforts to the now formed Shalamar Reloaded, wanting a fresh start for her new group without the negativity and baggage.[133] Shalamar Reloaded continue a quest to build a new base releasing their second single and video "O.R.I.G.IN.A.L" in May 2016, "The Mood" and continued adding a series of critically well received concerts.[134][135] In 2017 Shalamar Reloaded changed their name and all social media to a simple moniker of SRL in concerts and promotions with plans to release a debut album "Bridges".[136][137] In 2017 Watley rebranded her music collective once again, opting for Jody Watley & SRL (Soul Revolution Love). All previous releases were removed from digital outlets and social media pages updated or removed completely. Re-releasing the song "The Mood" at the start of 2018 with a remix by Italian Producer Alex Di Cio [138] The Mood became a Number 2 UK Soul Chart Single [139] The follow-up "The Passion" also reached the UK Soul Chart Top 3.[140] In the midst of that Watley released the Bob Marley jazzy makeover of the classic "Waiting In Vain" making her first entry into the Billboard Magazine Top 25 and Smooth Jazz Top 10.[141][142]

Music and fashion

In 1988 Watley filmed the video to "Looking For A New Love" and made a conscious decision to use fashion to help her express her vision, wearing clothes and accessories from designers such as Issey Miyake and Philip Treacy.[144] In 1990, Watley would continue to be involved with fashion. On her second album, she was photographed by fashion photographer Steven Meisel, where she continued to make her own style statements.[36] In the videos for "Real Love", Watley would introduce a higher fashion aesthetic blending vintage and custom designs.[36] "Friends" mixed couture by Jean-Paul Gaultier, with an urban sensibility. She released a million-selling home video, Dance To Fitness. She was featured in the first celebrity ad campaign for Gap[145] LA Eyeworks and in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Vogue Italia, Rolling Stone, Essence, and Vanity Fair.[146] She was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People of 1990 in People.[147]

In the same year, she contributed a jazzy rendition of "After You, Who?" the compilation album "Red Hot + Blue", an AIDS-awareness charity recording of songs by Cole Porter produced by the Red Hot Organization. Watley was photographed by famous photographer, Victor Skrebneski, for the popular Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15 page high fashion layout in 1996.[148] In 2006, Watley would walk the runway with designer Kevan Hall for LA Fashion Week.[149] She is also noted as an influence on contemporary designer Malan Breton and countless uncredited trends in contemporary style.

^USA Today (February 16, 1996), Best Bets: Albums Jody Watley Greatest Hits, "Few singers fired up the disco like Jody Watley who set trends and standards for fashion and music in the late 80s.." USA Today Life Section